Mantra Japa : How to begin

Om

Mantra Japa is a pratyahara & dharana practice in the Raja yog tradition & also important practise of Bhakti yog. The word japa means to rotate & japa yog means the union with the highest existence through Mantra repetition & rotation of consciousness. In Mantra japa, likhit japa can also be practised. Faith & awareness are a pre – requisite. For many, lighting a diya, candle, incense stick, offering flowers helps to make atmosphere conducive.

The repetitive sound of vibrations of mantra produce a vibratory force that works subtly on the psyche & awakens it. Mantra becomes the bridge that links conscious mental faculty with deeper psyche & inner self. 

Select any mantra or Name of God (preferably given by your Guru) and repeat it from 108 to 1080 times daily. Use a Rudraksha or Tulasi Maala of 108 beads, use only the middle finger & thumb of the right hand for rolling the beads. Index finger is not to be used. Do not allow the maala to hand below the naval. Keep the hand near the heart. Maala must not be visible to others. Cover it with cloth that is pure & clean. Do not cross the Meru (crown or head) of the Maala while rolling the beads. Turn back when you come to Meru mani.

Do mental japa. But if mind wanders do it whispering, then loudly. Again go back to mental.

Take a bath or wash your hands, feet, face & mouth before sitting in the morning.

Chant mantra when you have leisure; and at special times like Sandhyas or the junctions of the day, noon, evening. The atmosphere is charged at these times. And before going to bed. Associate the mantra with your breathing or Pranayama & meditate on the form of your Deity. A mantra requires correct phonetic pronunciation, intonation, concentration & creation of the associated mental image or form. Keep an image of your Deity in front. Think of the meaning of the Mantra while repeating. Pronounce reach letter of the Mantra correctly. Chant it slowly, increase it only when mind starts to wander. Observe Mouna (Silence) & avoid distractions, mobile, telephone, internet & people engagements.

Face the East or North & sit in a separate meditation room or any good place in your house or places such as temples, river banks etc.

Keep your Guru mantra a secret. Never reveal to anyone. Keep chanting even when you are doing passive work eg walking, cooking etc. If you don’t have a Guru mantra then universal mantras such as Om or Gayatri can be used.

Thanks - Swami Sivananda & Bihar School of Yoga

Om Shanti